New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-10
OBITUARY.
BENJAMIN HOLIDAY.

BENJAMIN HOLIDAY.
benjamin Holiday, whose death at Portland ore on
Friday has been announced, born In western new"
York sixty years ago. He emigrated carly 70
what was then known the Far West" before Cal-
fornia was thought Of His career In the West was iu
Of changes of occupation and location ana 7cisstoo
ND to the when he laid the foundation OF MS
in connection with the Overland Mail Express company
One of his claims for remuneration from the Governments
for tho work Of this company, amounting TO over
$500 900, dragged in Congress for twenty years Hhe
size OF this claim indicates the revenue that he Actually
did receive from the Government Mr. Holiday az MS
thousands began TO accumulate made investments In
railroads in Oregon and the Northwest besides purchas
ing large tracts of real estate in various places
Tho one piece Of property which made him most
famous was his Westcbester County property In THIS
State In 1870 he bought tract in that county to which
he gave the name OF Ophir Farm" Just how he came
to select this title is not known He may have thought
the land rich enough entitled to classification with
the land Of Ophir," or 1t may have been from the
famous Ophr gold mine from which he had received ricn
dividends. In any event the Ophir Farm is rcn IN
history 1t lies between Harrison and West Plains III
has many exposed to view from the highway,
undatng land, with long stretches OF level neds and
some timber and groves There several farm houses
on the property, but its most notable feature Is
colossal gloomy mansion. which stands on an ELEVATION
In the centre OF wide plain. On this house Holiday
spent upward Of $1000,000. II is one OF the sights
pointed out TO curious excursoniss Dy lnnaDitahtb
noug the shore of Long Island Sound and In the neigh
borhood OF Rye and White Plains The estate consisted
Of over 700 acres The great house built In 1870
and 1871 II is square structure 40 feet on each
side with several wings The general style OF architect
ure is English The material s dark gray granite, CIV
ing severe and unpleasant appearance. There Is on
one side colossal porch and balcony and the view from
there OF the Hudson extensive and pleasing short
distance from the house is small out beautiful white
n,iIt forM rs whO W a Roman
Catholic and shipped in II while alive The whole
property In litigation for years Mr. Holiday had
humber OF buffaloes the place and the neghDors
called Buffalo Farm" IL leased 70 Carrot Roach
son the sbipbuilder and passed into his hands Dy
purchase. The property had been conveyed TO Mrs;
Holiday In 1871 condition that she should VIII IL
back TO her husband In event OF her dying before MIN
This she failed do and In 1878 made VIII Dequeat
had been made ir accordance with the original agree
mept Both Wills were presented Tor PROBATE anu
strueele ensued before the Surrogate The surrogate
decided in favor OF the first Will MT HOLIDAY thero-
upon mortgaged the property to tho MUTUAL Lie %
ance Company for the nominal sum OF 100000 Inc
heir under the second will made long nght Dut tne
company able 70 hold the properly uhoer
its mortgage and sold the property
Mr.. Holiday had three children "A son anu two
daughters One OF the daughters married tue count uo
Pouftales n member OF OF the oldest families or
France, who for years an attache OF the frencn
Legation at Washington. Madame do fourtaies uIsu
suddenly In a sleeping car. Tho news OF hcr uea.n
affected Mrs. Holiday seriously that she suryea ne
danghter only short time The other daughter married
the Baron do Buasiere, whose father was Wesilny
lin ,ncier Paris The Baroness died several years ago
at the Hotel The daughters are Duficu wln
their mother In tho little chapel at Ophlr Farm iu Mrs
Uolday's will there a curious provision In one
clause to exclude from It's benefits any descehusn'so
hers who should marry q foreigner